John Yamamoto-Wilson wrote:
> rbleonard@gmail.com wrote:
> 
>>My family and I (3 kids)are moving to Japan this summer and have the
>>choice to live near Yokota or Misawa as a civilian contractor to the
>>Air Force.
>>
>>Given the choice are there any opinions on the quality of life between
>>the 2 areas?

If you like rural countryside (and in the winter like to ski or 
snowboard) then Misawa would be pretty convenient. You will need to 
learn to drive on the left etc if you haven't already. 3 kids though, so 
depending on how old they are then perhaps the attractions of Tokyo and 
central Japan would be better. Especially if you want to travel a fair 
bit while in Japan, since Misawa to Kyoto/Nara etc is a bloody long way.

> There was a more closely-knit "core" community of people who had
> their roots in the area, and I was on good terms with some of the local
> shopkeepers and some of the frequenters of local watering holes, but they
> were rather swamped, both by the proximity of the base and by the fact that
> they had gone, in a couple of generations, from being a little village to
> being a suburb of Tokyo.

That seems to be happening everywhere near major cities. Even in 
Okazaki. The population here has jumped 25% plus in the last 8 years. 
Bigger changes still on the way. Drive 30 minutes up into the hills and 
the exact opposite is occurring. I'm thinking of buying a farmhouse once 
the PR visa comes through.

-- 
St. Patrick's Day Parade, Nagoya. Saturday 5th March 2005
http://www.declan.tv/saint_pats/index.html